Tears glistened in the warm glow of candles. Heartbreaking sobbing broke the night's silence. A few hundred people gathered Friday to pay homage to one of their own at a candlelight vigil and bonfire held in memory and honor of Crystal Schaller. Many spoke with love about a 17-year-old girl who died much too soon.

Schaller died from multiple traumatic injuries in a single-vehicle crash in Washington Township at 4:20 p.m. Tuesday. She was the daughter of Jamie L. and Rose M. (Kocher) Schaller. She has an older sister, Amanda Schaller.An honor roll student, she was a junior at Northern Lehigh High School, who mentored and tutored fellow classmates. She played and coached softball, served on the prom committee and was a former assistant basketball coach.Northern Lehigh High School seniors, Dakota Flyte and James Swinney, Zach Woolson, a sophomore and Davy Abruizzi, a 2013 NLHS graduate, put together the vigil held at the Trout Run Covered Bridge, Friday night."We wanted to get everyone together to celebrate Crystal's life. To let everybody get their peace," Swinney said.Flyte said that Crystal was the first person he talked to when he moved to the area three years ago and that she made him feel welcomed. He said they talked all the time."I just saw her that day. I was shocked when I found out. I went to my mom and cried," said Flyte. He wanted to do the vigil for Crystal because a month ago, his friend Cody died and a vigil had been held for him. He saw how much it meant to all of his friend's family and friends that he wanted to do the same for Crystal."I knew she had so many friends. This is just a way to celebrate her life," Flyte said.Dan Abruizzi said Crystal was sweet, outgoing and well-liked."She was and is an angel," Abruizzi said.Allexis Fost, Jessica Pavolko, Olivia Reed and Kelsey Vince are all 2013 NLHS graduates."We were Crystal's 'big Sisters'," said Fost.Pavolko said, "Crystal and Paige Bachman were sitting at the lunch table by themselves the first day of their freshman year. Crystal is my little sister, Hayley's best friend. We invited her to sit at our table. We took her under our wings. I think what we loved best about Crystal was her sass and her attitude. She's someone we're all lucky to have known.""She was our little sassy Tootie," added Reed.Vince said, "She was bold and persistent and she loved her family very much."A large poster displayed pictures of Crystal with a poem in the center that began with "goodbyes are not forever."One by one, friends and classmates stood on a picnic table, to recite poems and talk about Crystal and what she meant to them. They described her as sweet, outgoing, down to earth, nice, like a sister and had a huge impact on lives.Crystal's parents thanked everyone for attending."From the bottom of my heart, we thank you. Crystal was a special girl who touched so many. Tonight we can see how many hearts she touched. Thank you," Jamie Schaller said.